On June 7, the Washington Capitals used a thrilling two-goal third period to come from behind and edge the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 in game 5 of the 2018 Stanley Cup Final. With the victory, the Capitals claimed their first NHL championship and triumphantly raised the most famous trophy in all of sport.

On the ice that night in Las Vegas were a quartet of Capitals from the State of Hockey – Travis Boyd (Hopkins), Shane Gersich (Chaska), Matt Niskanen (Virginia) and T.J. Oshie (Warroad)* – with each getting a chance to raise Lord Stanley’s Cup and add to Minnesota’s legacy of NHL champions. (Officially, Boyd and Gersich will not have their names engraved on the Cup as they did not meet the criteria of playing in half of the team’s regular season games or appearing in at least one Stanley Cup Final game.)

With the Capitals’ win, Niskanen and Oshie will become the 33rd and 34th Minnesota natives to have their names added to the Stanley Cup as players. In all, Minnesotans have raised the Cup 45 times with seven players winning multiple times.

Since 2007, 10 Minnesota natives have won the Stanley Cup, including six in the last three years. Those players are:
• 2018 (Washington) – Niskanen, Oshie
• 2017 (Pittsburgh) – Josh Archibald (Brainerd), Matt Cullen (Virginia), Jake Guentzel (Woodbury)
• 2016 (Pittsburgh) – Cullen
• 2013 (Chicago) – Nick Leddy (Eden Prairie)
• 2010 (Chicago) – Dustin Byfuglien (Roseau)
• 2009 (Pittsburgh) – Alex Goligoski (Grand Rapids)
• 2007 (Anaheim) – Ryan Carter (White Bear Lake), Joe Motzko (Bemidji)

When looking at the most recent Minnesota natives to raise the Cup, a pattern emerges. Based on their backgrounds, the “typical” Minnesotan Stanley Cup winner calls Northern Minnesota home, played high school hockey through his senior season, was a Mr. Hockey finalist or winner, played less than a full season of junior hockey, played college hockey, left college early and played in the AHL before making the jump to the NHL. 

Below is a look at each of the last 10 Minnesotans to raise the Cup and their path to winning hockey’s ultimate prize. 

Click here for the all-time list of Minnesota native players on the Stanley Cup.

* T.J. Oshie was born in Washington before moving to Warroad prior to high school. He considers Warroad his hometown.